OPRA Request Denied by WO Twp

Resident requests information regarding potential conflict of interest by having township attorney Richard Trenk’s son serve as a voting member on the Township Planning Board. (The very board that approves dad’s initiatives.)

FAMILY TIES Video

Not quite sure what the big deal is with current and past redevelopment practices in our town of West Orange. Welcome to lesson #1.

The Trenk Train: First Stop "municipal litigation"

All aboard the Trenk Train! Who is this guy? He's YOUR Town Attorney/ lawyer , paid handsomely with your tax dollars. He's now costing the town even more money through municipal litigation brought on by another redevelopment scheme. Corruption? What will a NJ Superior Court judge find?

Below is a 2007, 53-page investigative report conducted & filed by Judge Gary S. Stein. Possible ethical violations committed by West Orange's current Town Attorney (Richard Trenk), were the subject of the investigation. Details re: Mr. Trenk's wheelings 'n dealings with a developer, as he worked for residents, while forming an LLC to purchase the real estate himself...straight out of movie script.

Deborah M. Kole, provides a clear definition of what constitutes a "conflict of interest" for municipal employees.

Relevance: The West Orange Town Council President at the time (Robert Parisi, now WO Mayor) could have acted on the findings by recommending that Richard Trenk not serve as West Orange town attorney. Flash forward to present day, and Mayor Parisi continues to support and allow Richard Trenk to serve as West Orange Town Attorney, and allow him to provide legal advice to the current Town Council. In addition, young Andrew Trenk (son) was appointed by Mayor Parisi to the Planning Board, creating an image of possible conflicts of interest regarding projects his father is promoting. (Maybe we are naive. Perhaps young Trenk will vote in opposition to his father's shady proposals?) So far, this hasn't been the case.

Richard Trenk is continuing to demonstrate a lack of ethical responsibility to the taxpayers he represents by acting as a conduit between the Town of West Orange, and the Developers who purchased Essex Green Shopping Center.